![\"Greg's](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/weaklynews\/2011\/may\/ride_profile.jpg?resize=525%2C186\" "\\"Greg's")
<\/p>\nGood morning to you all on another fine morning here in beautiful downtown Byfield. The weather this week has followed the pattern of last \u2013 glorious, spotlight-bright sunshine burning into your eyes at about 4.30 in the morning followed, by mid-morning, with increasing cloud and wind. By the afternoon the day is cold, overcast and windy with no f***ing rain!<\/p>\n
Normally, of course, one would rejoice in being able to report that we\u2019ve had no rain. After all, that\u2019s what British summers are known for the world over \u2013 cold rain and wind. But we\u2019ve had no significant rain for weeks and everywhere is desperate, not least my broad beans! And every afternoon, as the skies become increasingly grey and overcast, it seems so tantalisingly close and we even get the odd drop or six but nothing more. I never thought I\u2019d say it but let\u2019s have some rain, please.<\/p>\n
We had several comments about the virtual Google Earth bicycle ride in last week\u2019s episode. Ms Playchute was concerned that you wouldn’t appreciate the precipitous peaks I have to scale at various points along this route \u2013 it\u2019s not all flat, you know, in spite of what it might look like in the video clip. The site which does all this for me is Map My Ride and it produces a handy profile of the route which gives you a feel for the Everest-like ascents I have to make.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You can see the rolling profile the route has, the low point being at mile 13 where I cross the Oxford Canal just north of Cropredy.<\/p>\n
Nick has promised to let me borrow his time-lapse camera one day so at some point in the future you can enjoy another virtual ride with me.<\/p>\n
Last week I wrote about the two \u201ccalamities\u201d which had struck and wondered when the third would occur. I thought it had happened on Tuesday when I was mowing the lawn \u2013 when I finished I noticed that my wedding ring was missing. I was absolutely positive I had it on when I started (after all, I never take it off and was sure I would have noticed). So, Nick, who was visiting at the time, and Penny scoured the lawn on their hands and knees while I painstakingly searched through the pile of lawn clippings. No joy, which was very distressing. Not only did I feel somewhat \u201cnaked\u201d, the ring had been Pop-Pop\u2019s and I really, really like it.<\/p>\n
So, there I was just about to conclude that this was the third \u201ccalamity\u201d when I remembered that I had paused mid-mowing to tie up a clematis, during which I had my hands embroiled in the leaves. And, there it was, resting gently on the ground in the flower bed. Phew!<\/p>\n
So, does this count as the third calamity, even though I dodged the bullet on this occasion? As it happens, no. The third calamity arrived on Thursday evening when the tenant came round to say that the boiler in the Annexe was on the blink \u2013 again! This, literally, on the evening I had just paid the significantly-sized bill for the previous repair which was affected when I was away.<\/p>\n
It never rains but it pours.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/stragoddity\/images\/The%20Toupee%20brothers_jpg.jpg?resize=525%2C380\" "\\"The")
<\/p>\n![\"Trump](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/weaklynews\/2011\/may\/trump.jpg?resize=350%2C478\" "\\"Trump")
And finally, finally, speaking as we were in a round about way of hair, we were disappointed that Donald Trump has decided not to run for the presidency in 2012. Particularly when his supporters have come up with such a great campaign poster.<\/p>\n